Hebrews 4

Study Guide 157: Hebrews 4:14-8:13 JESUS, OUR HIGH PRIEST Overview In the Old Testament the high priest was the man appointed to represent the people before God. He was the man who dealt with sins and weaknesses by offering the necessary sacrifices for sins (Hebrews 5:3). But as a link between God and man, the Old Testament priest was never enough. He was a shadow representing the coming perfect intermediary. Hebrews 4:14 affirms that in Jesus “ we have a great High Priest.” As a human being He is able to sympathize with us in our weaknesses. Yet He is also God: the Son has “ gone into heaven” to take His stand in the very presence of the Father. Because Jesus is both God and Man, He is an adequate link between us and the Father. So the Scripture says, “ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). When we fail and are ashamed, or when we are overwhelmed and need help desperately, we need never draw back. Jesus, human like us, will understand. And Jesus, God as is the Father, is able to aid. It is important, when we have heard the voice of God calling us to act, and still feel inadequate, that we turn to Jesus as High Priest and realize all that He is able to do for us. In this important study, then, you will guide your group members to see Jesus as their High Priest, and rely on Him.

Commentary For the Hebrew Christians to whom this letter was written, the ministry and qualifications of a priest were well known. For the modern reader, without any intimate experience of the Old Testament priestly concept, these may seem strange. Yet what these chapters teach is important, for they speak not only of the shadow pictures of the old economy but of realities vital to Christian experience.

The Priestly Ministry: Hebrews 5:1-10This passage begins by making three statements about the priesthood . . . and then by commenting on two. Its function and qualifications (Hebrews 5:1-3). The priest represented other men “ in matters related to God” and offered “ gifts and sacrifices for sins.” Jesus of course offered Himself, and by that one sacrifice, opened the door to permanent relationship with God. Anyone who desires to come to God can come through Jesus. Thus Jesus fulfills everything that the Old Testament hinted at concerning relationship with God. The high priest of the Old Testament had to be “ selected among men” and be “ able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.” Jesus was surely chosen from among men, for He became a Man. But what about “ subject to weakness” ? Hebrews 4:15 says that Jesus is able “ to sympathize with our weaknesses” because as a Man He was “ tempted in every way just as we are — yet without sin.” This verse is often misunderstood, in part because of misunderstanding of weakness. Weakness does not refer to our human tendency to give in to temptation, but to our capacity to feel it! Our weakness is human frailty itself: the hungers, the desires, the pains to which we are subject and which push and pull against our wills. Jesus, in taking on human nature, took on our weaknesses as well. At every point in every way, Jesus was tested as we are. In fact, He was tempted beyond the point at which we give in!Imagine two prisoners of war being tortured to make them do a propaganda radio broadcast. One, after two months, can stand it no longer and yields. The other resists beyond the two months for years, even though the pressures increase. Both learned something of their weakness as the pressures grew. But only the one who continued to resist really knew how weak he was, as he daily had to cope with and overcome his human frailty. Only the one who continued to resist understood the full weight of pain that being a human being involves. And this is what the Bible says about Jesus. He knows more about human frailty than we do. He really understands how terrible it is to be weak. And because He understands, He is able to sympathize with us when we find ourselves tempted. In Hebrews 5:1-14 the writer says more about Jesus’ humanity and its relationship to His present high priestly ministry. First, in Gethsemane Jesus knew a desperate extremity which drove Him to pray “ with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). Note that Jesus prayed to One who could “ save Him from death,” not “ save Him from dying.” And God did, taking Jesus from the very grip of death in Resurrection. Yet Jesus’ suffering extended through the ultimate — dying itself. Jesus surely does understand human weakness: He experienced all that it means. This full and total identification with us enables Jesus to “ deal gently” with us when we go astray. The Greek word, metriopatheia, suggests a balanced involvement. We’ ve seen mothers so upset at a child’ s accident that they are unable to help. Metriopatheia suggests both feeling with the injured, yet being detached enough to react and to act for the other’ s good. Second, the writer says that Jesus met His dying with “ reverent submission.” Thus He was able to “ learn obedience” from the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:7-8). We never benefit from our trials or sufferings when we react rebelliously or in panic. God seeks to strengthen us through every experience of life. Meeting life with reverent submission frees us from being overwhelmed, and helps us grow in our own ability to feel with those who are hurt or needed without becoming so “ sympathetic” that we are unable to help. Finally the writer notes that these experiences and His suffering “ made [Jesus] perfect” (Hebrews 5:9). The phrase does not suggest that Jesus fell short, as God or as a human being. The Greek word, teleios, speaks of a perfection that is related to the purpose or function for which a thing or person is designed. If Jesus were to be fitted for the task of High Priest. He “ learned,” in the sense of personally experiencing, the pain of being human and the cost of obedience when suffering is involved. And thus, as a truly qualified Person, Jesus was appointed by God, who alone has the right to determine who will be High Priest to His people (Hebrews 5:4-6), to His priestly ministry. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT List the following phrases on the chalkboard, and ask your group members (1) to vote on agreement or disagreement, and then (2) to explain why each voted as he or she did by saying what he or she thinks the phrase means. Jesus was tempted just as we are. Jesus was subject to weakness. Jesus learned obedience through suffering. Jesus was made perfect by His suffering. Your goal is not to “ show up” those who answer wrongly, but rather to help your group members grasp each of these themes as it is related to Jesus’ priesthood. So after hearing opinions go over the passage carefully, helping your members see that each of these truths encourages us to come freely to Jesus rather than hold back in shame when we are aware of our own weakness and human frailties.

On to Maturity: Hebrews 5:11-6:8 The writer was discouraged. If only these Jewish believers could grasp the import of Christ’ s High Priesthood! If only they would grasp these basic truths, apply them, and by “ constant use [application]” go on to maturity! But these Christians are immature, and “ slow to learn,” not having grasped even the elementary truths of the Gospel. Deep controversy has raged over what the writer is about to say in Hebrews 6:1-20. There are few passages that have stimulated more debate. Over the years, four main interpretations of Hebrews 6:1-20 have been suggested: (1) These verses speak of Jews who had professed Christ but stopped short of true faith. (2) These verses refer to believers who have fallen into sin, and will lose their reward. (3) These verses refer to believers who have slipped back into unbelief, and have lost their salvation. (4) These verses give a hypothetical case, used to demonstrate the foolishness of a panic which insists “ hold on” when Christians should instead “ go on.” Before we select one of these, let’ s look carefully at what Hebrews 6:1-4 call elementary teaching, or if you will, foundation truths. Foundation truths. It is important to see these truths for what they are — truly foundational. Remember that a foundation is a solid and secure base on which one can build. Once the foundation has been laid, we can trust ourselves to it and get on with the business of construction. What the writer identified for these panicky Jewish believers who look back to the Old Testament faith and lifestyle are foundational truths that should provide security. Grasping them, feeling secure, these believers should have gone on to maturity. What are the foundation truths on which we can rely? Repentance from dead works. Coming to Christ we realize that our works had nothing to do with salvation or the life Jesus offers. We turn away from a “ works righteousness” in the Christian life as well. Faith in God. Trust in God is the key to salvation. That transaction of saving faith is complete. Instruction about baptisms. In the early church, careful instruction preceded baptism. It is likely this refers to the basic doctrines taught and accepted before baptism took place. Laying on of hands. This may refer to church discipline (leaders were appointed with the laying on of hands) or perhaps to teaching about the Holy Spirit (whose entry into the believer was so symbolized). Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. These doctrines summarize the believer’ s hope. The writer, then, is asking us to believe so fully that when Christ came into our lives all these things were settled that we no longer worry about our relationship with the Lord. We know that He loves us. We know that we are saved. The emphasis on an already laid foundation, and the Hebrews’ tendency to look away, leads us to conclude that the fourth suggestion best explains the teaching of Hebrews 6:4-10. The writer is posing a hypothetical case to demonstrate just how foolish the Hebrews’ panic and uncertainty are. The writer says, “ Let’ s not go back again as if there were no foundation to rest on.” The fact is that the basic issues of death, faith, and resurrection have been settled by the finished work of Christ. So the writer asks: What would you want to do? View your failure as a falling away of God, so access is now lost? How then would you ever be restored — you who have been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and known the flow of resurrection power? Do you want to crucify Jesus all over again, and through a new sacrifice be brought back to repentance? How impossible! What a disgrace, this hint that Jesus’ work for you was not enough. Hebrews 6:4-6, author’ s paraphrase The point here is simple. God wants us to know that Jesus’ death is enough. There is no more need for sacrifices for sin. By His one sacrifice Jesus made “ perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14). You and I, like the Hebrews, are free to get on with the business of living for Jesus because He has resolved forever the question of our relationship with God. Two brief paragraphs that follow reinforce this understanding. From Hebrews 6:7-8 we learn that the issue is one of fruitfulness. God is (and we are to be) concerned with the products of maturity. Hebrews 6:9-12 are words of encouragement. Calling the readers, “ dear friends,” the writer looks at the fruit they have already produced. Their work, their love for God, and love for God’ s people, show that they have taken first steps, and are making progress. But how we each need, not hesitant progress, but a full commitment to that obedience which brings us maturity. LINK TO LIFE: YOUTH / ADULT Ask your group members to each write a paraphrase of Hebrews 6:4-6. When completed, share the four historic views of this passage sketched in the commentary. Which of the views did each member assume when he or she did the paraphrase? Then discuss the passage in its context, sharing the author’ s paraphrase or one of your own. Because Jesus is our High Priest, we are freed from doubts and uncertainties, and can go on in our Christian lives, confident of our salvation. Our anchor. Just to make sure that his readers had not misunderstood, the writer spoke of the confidence we can have in the full access won for us by Jesus. Our access is guaranteed by God’ s oath, so that “ we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:18-20).

More on Priesthood: Hebrews 7:1-8:13 The writer’ s previous references to Melchizedek are now explained. This mysterious figure, who was king of Jerusalem in Abraham’ s day, was offered tithes (the tenth part of one’ s goods, set apart by the Old Testament Law for the priesthood) by the patriarch himself! To the writer, this demonstrated the superiority of the Melchizedekian priesthood, for the unborn Levi, head of the tribe from which Old Testament priests were drawn, might be said to have paid tithes to Melchizedek through his great-grandfather, Abraham (Hebrews 7:1-10). The writer now contrasted Christ’ s priesthood with that of the Old Testament order (Hebrews 7:11-28). The new Priest’ s ministry does not rest on family line but on “ the power of an indestructible life” (Hebrews 7:16). The former priesthood was set aside because it was unable to provide perfect access. In Jesus, we have “ a better hope . . . by which we draw near to God” (Hebrews 7:19). The former priests died. Jesus continues forever as a permanent Priest. “ Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25). This, the writer exults, is the High Priest we need. You and I, living in a culture in which the priesthood principle is relatively unknown, may dismiss these arguments as irrelevant. But our High Priest is a present reality, a reality we need to grasp and know. Because Jesus lives as our High Priest, we too have guaranteed access to God. In failure, we can claim the promised mercy. Under the daily pressures of our lives, we can claim the help of a Man who knows our every need, and who knows as well the path of victory. The writer now made an important observation. The change in priesthood indicated a change in other elements of the Old Testament system. And one of those changes was a change in covenant — that is, a change in the nature of the promises God has made to us that define how He relates to us as His people. The Old Testament itself promised that one day the Old Covenant of Mosaic Law would be replaced, because it was inadequate. Thus the Hebrews’ yearning for the old ways was doubly unwise. But where does the superiority of the new lie? Why is it so much better for us? In part because, in Jesus, we have a better High Priest. But also because of the impact of the New Covenant on our very personalities. God had said that when the new comes: I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will a man teach his neighbor, or a man his brother, saying, “ Know the Lord,” because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:10-12God’ s change in the system is a simple one. He takes the laws which express righteousness and puts them, not in external commandments, but on inner tablets of mind and heart. Notice that two things are necessary. We must know what God’ s righteous standards are and how to translate them into personal experience. The Law can tell us what the standards are. But only a changed heart will enable us to live by those standards. This is what is so exciting here. God now puts His laws in our minds and writes them in our hearts. It is through the Bible that we come to understand the will of God. And it is here we find the principles that show us how to live a righteous life. But it is only the transformed heart, which spontaneously responds to God and His Word, that will move us to righteousness. We can summarize then what Hebrews here reveals. Mosaic Law does deal with righteousness. The shadow it cast across the Old Testament showed that God, its Giver, is righteous. The shadow shows us something of what righteous behavior is. The shadow shows us that God really cares about seeing righteousness in us. But commandment law was only a shadow; it could not produce righteousness. It dealt with externals, but did not touch the heart. Then Jesus came. In Jesus’ human personality, the full righteousness of Commandment Law was expressed as living truth. Then Jesus died. And in His death and resurrection, Jesus snatched us up and, calling us “ brothers,” brought us into the divine family. In making us sons, God planted deep within us something of Jesus’ own personality. “ Christ in you,” Paul says, is “ the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). When Jesus entered our lives He brought righteousness with Him. That which had been expressed in external commands now is expressed in our hearts and minds. That very element of the old system which broke down (the human element) has now been changed. The outer Commandment Law of the old has become an inner law through the new. And all this is enhanced as we see Jesus as our High Priest. When we see Jesus as High Priest, we realize that the shame of failures that once drove us from God no longer matters. Jesus understands, He sympathizes, and He can help us overcome our weaknesses. Because of Jesus we run to God, not from Him. And Jesus as High Priest promises not only access but also renewal. He is constantly at work within us, writing His law and very personality in our inner selves. This too is ours through Jesus, our High Priest. Because of Jesus, the door to God is always open, and so we always have hope. The old doorkeepers, the Aaronic priests, are gone. Their struggle to keep open the crack that the Old Testament opened in relationship to God is ended. Jesus has come, and He has not only thrown open the door, but He stands in it to welcome us personally when we turn to Him.

Teaching Guide Prepare Read through Hebrews 4-8 several times to familiarize yourself with the writer’ s argument.

Explore

1. Share briefly: “ How do you tend to feel about yourself when you sin or fall short? How do you tend to think God feels about you?”
2. Or list phrases from Hebrews that speak of Jesus’ humanity, and of His “ weakness,” “ learning,” and being “ made perfect.” After seeing how your group members understand these phrases, show how they relate to the high priesthood of Jesus and His capacity to sympathize with us and to help us. See “ link-to-life” above.

Expand

1. Work on a paraphrase of Hebrews 6:1-20 to help your group members sense that the foundation of salvation has been laid. Our challenge now is, secure in our faith in Jesus, to build on that foundation, going on to maturity. See “ link-to-life” above.
2. Or work as a class to make a one-sentence summary of each paragraph in Hebrews 7:1-28 and Hebrews 8:1-13, showing the superiority of Jesus’ priesthood and the New Covenant He made with humankind.

Apply Ask each person to draw his own sketch representing one thing he has learned about his relationship with God through this session. Ask each person to show and explain his or her drawings. Close in prayer, thanking God for all Jesus means to us.